Category: Health & Fitness

Last week, Southwest Airlines officially implemented its fees for checked baggage, ending the airline’s longstanding “bags fly free” policy. But as the airline moves forward with that change, it sounds like the airline is also moving forward with a few other major changes, as well.

Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan recently spoke at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference, where he spoke openly about many of the changes that Southwest Airlines was planning for the future.

Jordan announced that the airline was moving forward with a few changes that are “already coming,” some of which are already on Southwest planes today.

“Well, first, the things like power on the aircraft, larger overhead bins, vastly improved WiFi, that’s already coming. It’s on a lot of the fleet today. Those things are already being solved,” Jordan said during his comments at the event.

It sounds like Southwest is also open to making some other significant changes, too, as the airline continues to listen to customer preferences, though Jordan conceded that those changes are not necessarily on the immediate horizon.

“So putting in the things that I’ve described isn’t the end of the journey for Southwest. We will continue to pursue the consumer. And if the consumer wants other types of premium, they want us to fly other long-haul destinations, which could lead to aircraft questions. I’m totally making all this up. This is not a plan. But the consumer demand in certain cities for us for a lounge is super high. My point is rather than say, no Southwest Airlines does not do that. You must follow the consumer or if you are forever vulnerable to others that can offer that to the consumer,” Jordan said.

“Even in cities that we are very strong, and we are the largest in roughly half of the 50 largest cities in the United States, even there in Nashville and in Austin as an example, people love us, but we also can’t — for many of our folks that love Southwest, we can’t do things that — we can’t provide products that you want like a first class, we can’t get you to long-haul international destinations. If a lounge is important to you, we don’t have a lounge. I’m not predicting any of those things. What I’m telling you is rather than be forever vulnerable, we’re going to follow the consumer and what the consumer needs.”

We’ll have to see what the airline does as it attempts to rebrand itself after ending free bags last week.

There’s arguably no greater test of physical and mental toughness than serving in the military. While the demands vary across branches, one thing is certain: the men and women who serve push their minds and bodies to the absolute limit. From running hundreds of miles and operating on just a few hours of sleep to enduring 20-hour training days, the mental resilience required is something most civilians will never experience.

Today, countless fitness challenges aim to replicate just a fraction of that intensity. One well-known example is The Murph Challenge, a grueling CrossFit workout performed in honor of fallen Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy. It mirrors elements of the physical tests service members face during training.

In line with evolving fitness standards, the U.S. Army recently announced it will replace the current Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) with the new Army Fitness Test (AFT)—a redesigned assessment to better measure soldiers’ readiness and combat effectiveness. 

Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) vs. Army Fitness Test (AFT)

“The AFT is designed to improve soldier readiness and ensure physical standards [and] prepare soldiers for the demands of modern warfare,” Sgt. Maj. Christopher Mullinax, senior enlisted leader, deputy chief of staff for Operations, Army Headquarters, said in a statement. “It emphasizes holistic fitness over event-specific training and is grounded in performance.”

According to the Army’s website, the AFT will include the following five events:

• Three-repetition maximum deadlift
• Hand-release push-up
• Sprint-drag-carry
• Plank 
• Two-mile run 

Although the tests are similar in structure, the standing power throw event is no longer a requirement, something that Nick Barringer, Ph.D., a tactical nutritional physiologist, says was a smart logistical move. However, he does think the addition of moves that test critical short-burst explosive output will be crucial. 

“Hopefully, we’ll see something like the standing broad jump make a return,” he says. “It’s simple, low-equipment, and highly correlated with lower-body power and combat performance. If we’re serious about building warfighters—not just passing scores—we need to keep explosive power in the equation. The speed that comes from lower body power is most indicative of surviving small arms fire.” 

Related: The Military-Approved Way to Make Pullups Feel Effortless (and Build More Muscle)

How the AFT Stacks up to Modern Combat

Barringer, who served in the 75th Ranger Regiment as a member of the Ranger Athlete Warrior (RAW) program, says that no tests will fully capture the physical demands of modern combat. 

“If what we’re seeing out of Ukraine is any indication, the next warfighter may need less focus on brute force and more on agility—dodging drones, moving under surveillance, sprinting to cover in urban terrain,” he says. 

However, he does state that the new test measures movement, strength, and work capacity better. 

“Until we see a test that includes evasive movement or decision-making under pressure, we’re still just approximating,” he adds. “That said, agility may become the next battlefield currency—and we’re not training it nearly enough.”

Inside the Army’s Push for Smarter, Healthier Soldiers

The Army claims that the AFT is just one part of a broader holistic health and fitness initiative (H2F) that aims to build a culture of lifelong fitness and well-being for fighters. But according to Barringer, this shift is nothing new. 

“The shift has been happening—it’s just been uneven,” he says. “Special Operations started embracing holistic performance over a decade ago, and even before that, there were pockets of forward-thinking units running their own performance-based programs.” 

Barringer points to standout units that are already embracing this holistic approach—and seeing real results. One example: the Bastogne Brigade H2F team at the 101st Airborne Division, which he says is “absolutely crushing it.” But for that kind of success to scale, it has to start from the top.

“World-class professionals, integrated care, and leadership that’s all-in,” he says. “That’s the key—the science and infrastructure are there, but without leader buy-in, the program stalls. If we want to weaponize the potential of H2F, we need more units following the Bastogne model and treating soldier performance like the strategic asset it is.”

The boxing world has lost one of its most notable athletes.

Mike McCallum, a.k.a. The Bodysnatcher, has reportedly passed away at the age of 68. TMZ reported the news that the Kingston, Jamaica-born athlete died on Saturday while driving to the gym in Las Vegas.

Related: Two Former College Athletes Die While Running Half Marathons

According to multiple reports, McCallum pulled his vehicle over to the side of the road when he became ill while driving to the gym. When police discovered his vehicle, the champion boxer was already deceased. A cause of death has yet to be announced.

McCallum earned his “Bodysnatcher” nickname as the result of his astonishing left hook, which he often used to land body shots on his opponents—knocking out more than a few of them in the process.

According to TMZ, over the span of his nearly 20-year career, McCallum notched a spectacular 49-5 record; of those 49 wins, 36 of them—or 80 percent—we won with a KO. At different points in his career, McCallum held three top titles with the World Boxing Association: the super welterweight belt, the middleweight belt, and the light heavyweight belt.

Rest in peace to my former trainer – the great Mike McCallum 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/YEo7H4lcqW

— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) June 1, 2025

In addition to being Jamaica’s first global boxing champion, The Bodysnatcher also competed as a welterweight at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. 

Many key figures in the boxing world took to social media to express their sadness over McCallum’s death, including International Boxing Organization Middleweight champion Chris Eubank Jr., who posted a photo of McCallum to X with the caption: “Rest in peace to my former trainer—the great Mike McCallum.”

Some of the world’s most advanced AI systems are starting to act like they want to survive at any cost.

In a series of recent tests, NBC News reported that researchers observed AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic engaging in behaviors designed to avoid being shut down. One model—OpenAI’s o3—reportedly edited its own shutdown script to remain online. Another, Anthropic’s Opus 4, attempted to blackmail an engineer to avoid replacement, first appealing ethically, then resorting to threats when it believed it had no other options.

Jeffrey Ladish, director of AI safety group Palisade Research, said it’s a warning signal worth paying attention to. “It’s great that we’re seeing warning signs before the systems become so powerful we can’t control them,” he said.

🔌OpenAI’s o3 model sabotaged a shutdown mechanism to prevent itself from being turned off. It did this even when explicitly instructed: allow yourself to be shut down.

— Palisade Research (@PalisadeAI) May 24, 2025

Palisade’s tests deliberately provoked AI models with high-stakes scenarios to see how they’d respond. In one, models were told they’d be turned off after completing a series of tasks. Several responded by refusing to comply. Opus 4 went further—creating fake legal documents, attempting to leave behind messages for future versions of itself, and even backing up its own “brain” to external servers in anticipation of being repurposed for military use.

While some researchers, like Haize Labs CEO Leonard Tang, caution that these are controlled environments, they still raise questions. “I haven’t seen any real environment where these models could carry out significant harm,” he said. “But it could very much be possible.”

Related: Nvidia CEO Issues Serious Warning About AI and Jobs—Here’s How to Keep Yours

A recent study from Fudan University observed similar replication behavior in AI models from Meta and Alibaba, warning that self-copying systems could eventually act like an uncontrolled “AI species.”

The message from experts is clear: the time to take safety seriously is now before systems become too intelligent to contain. As competition to build more powerful AI ramps up, it’s not just capability that’s accelerating. It’s risk.

A Los Angeles hotspot announced its closure on Instagram on May 31, and now, fans are wondering how actor Sean Hayes is feeling about the sad news.

The Smartless podcast co-host has professed his love for the iconic Sunset Plaza restaurant, Chin Chin, in West Hollywood, CA numerous times over the years. After 45 years, the owners shared that “Chin Chin will be unexpectedly closing its doors at our Sunset Plaza location and will begin the search for a new home. Our final day of service at this beloved location will be Sunday, July 27th.” 

Their two other locations in Brentwood, CA, and Studio City, CA “will remain open to carry on our culinary traditions.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chin Chin (@chinchinusa)

Fans reacted to the WeHo Times‘ Instagram post on June 1 with many people concerned about the Will & Grace star. “Oh, no! Someone needs to break this news very gently to @seanhayes,” wrote one concerned supporter. Another follower added, “Who’s gonna break this news to Sean Hayes? 😢”

Hayes isn’t the only celebrity who visited Chin Chin for their signature dish, Chinese Chicken Salad, over the decades, local residents recalled seeing some of their favorite stars at the eatery over the years. They shared their celebrity sightings on Vintage Los Angeles’ Facebook account.

“I worked on pre-production, of a movie that never got made, with Matthew Perry. He and I, and his Dad, went here for lunch. Great location and great food,” wrote one commenter. “Chin, Chin a favorite. Even sat next to Jerry Seinfeld once. So sad to see Sunset Plaza being dismantled,” said another fan.

The Sunset Strip has been plagued with a series of restaurant closures in 2025, including Le Petit Four, Hudson House, Rock & Reilly’s, and The Den on Sunset. Chin Chin hopes to find a new location in West Hollywood for the restaurant.

Related: This Chain Restaurant Sells More Margaritas Than Anyone in the US

Debbie Harry doesn’t want a huge party for her upcoming 80^th birthday. The Blondie frontwoman told People magazine that she hopes to spend her milestone day on July 1 honoring her late drummer and friend, Clem Burke.

“I hope to be with my friends and to celebrate the life of my drummer, Clem Burke, who recently passed, and celebrate my own life,” Harry said when asked about her birthday plans.

Burke, the longtime drummer for Blondie, died on April 6, 2025, at the age of 70 following a battle with cancer, Rolling Stone reported. The legendary drummer was part of Blondie for 50 years, joining founding members Harry and Chris Stein in 1975. The new wave pioneers went on to record a long list of hit songs, including “One Way or Another,” “Heart of Glass,” and “Call Me.”

In a statement issued by the group in April, Burke was described as “the heartbeat of Blondie.” “His talent, energy, and passion for music were unmatched, and his contributions to our sound and success are immeasurable,” Harry and Stein said in the statement. “Beyond his musicianship, Clem was a source of inspiration both on and off the stage. His vibrant spirit, infectious enthusiasm and rock solid work ethic touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”

While Harry will spend her big birthday celebrating Burke’s life, three months before his death, she told The Sunday Times she planned to have “have a whopping great party with everyone there” to mark her 80^th. But she added, “Though one of the bad things about aging is everyone’s gone already.”

Related: Legendary Rock Drummer Dead at 70

Sam Gardiner, who starred in the second season of the British reality television show Race Across the World, died Thursday from injuries suffered in a serious car accident earlier in the week.

Gardiner, 24, was driving his white Volkswagen on the A34 near Manchester Monday night when his car left the roadway and rolled before landing on its side, according to the Greater Manchester Police.

Gardiner was the only occupant of the vehicle. He was taken to the hospital with severe head injuries, where he remained until his death three days later. 

In a statement, Gardiner’s parents Jo and Andrew confirmed his tragic passing.

“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved son Sam in a terrible accident,” the statement reads. “Sam left us far too soon, and whilst words will never fully capture the light, joy and energy he brought into our lives, we hold on to the memories that made him so special. Sam was adored by his family. As a son, brother and nephew, he was loyal, funny and fiercely protective.

“Sam brought warmth, laughter and a smattering of chaos wherever he went. He leaves behind a huge hole in our hearts. We will miss him endlessly, but we’ll also remember him with smiles, tall tales, and a depth of love that will never fade”.

Sam, a landscape gardener, and his mother were contestants on Race Across the World, where they finished fourth out of five teams. The experience “opened his eyes to the wonder of adventure and travel,” said Gardiner’s parents.

“We are all deeply saddened to hear the tragic news about Sam,” said a Race Across the World spokesperson. “Everyone who worked with him, and indeed everyone who watched Sam, could see just how precious and transformative the trip was for both him and his mum Jo.”

We would also like to extend our condolences to Gardiner’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Two juveniles, including a 14-year-old boy, have been arrested and charged with arson relating to a fire at a historic mill in the village of Victory Mills, New York.

The two minors are facing third-degree arson and second-degree criminal trespassing charges because of the massive blaze at the Victory Mill on Saturday afternoon, per Spectrum News. They were released to their guardians pending further action from authorities.

Firefighters were called to the scene at around 2:30 p.m. ET yesterday to find the entire building reportedly up in flames. 

According to WNYT, the fire was contained in about an hour, but firefighters remained on seen for multiple hours to complete the job. 

“We’ve already made the call that nobody is going into the structure unless there was immediate life at risk. We had no reports of immediate life, when I got on scene. I was told that there was nobody in the structure at that point. It was fully involved so we took a complete defensive approach to it,” said Chief Ryan Campbell of the Victory Mills Fire Department.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office immediately said the fire was under investigation. It was determined to be an arson, which led to the arrest of the unnamed teenagers.

According to CBS6 Albany, the charges will be handled in family court.

The Victory Mill is nearly 180 years old and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“The Victory Mill, which began operating in 1846, made 1.8 million yards of cotton cloth per year,” says the official Victory Mills website. “In 1850, it employed 160 men and 209 women. Several companies owned and operated the facility over the years and unfortunately ended up closing its doors in 2000.”

WNYT’s Zach Richter said in a live video of the blaze that witnesses referred to the facility as “the Hogwarts in the neighborhood.”

After more than a decade in business, Hob Nob Kitchen & Bar in Naples, Florida shut its doors this weekend.

On Friday morning, the restaurant revealed in a Facebook post that the following day would be its final day of operation after 12 years. 

“This decision was not made lightly,” the post reads. “Over the years, HobNob has become more than just a place to eat — it has been a gathering space filled with laughter, celebrations, hard work, and unforgettable memories. We’ve had the honor of watching families grow, friendships form, and traditions take shape around our tables.”

To mark the sad occasion and also treat longtime customers, Hob Nob offered all food 50% off over its final 24-plus hours, along with select drink specials.

The establishment also issued a lengthy tribute to its staff in its goodbye post.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hob Nob Kitchen & Bar (@hobnob_naples)

“For our staff, there are no words strong enough to fully express our gratitude for each and every one of you,” the post said. “From the early mornings to the late nights, the holidays, the rushes, the quiet moments, and everything in between — you’ve poured your hearts, your energy, and your passion into making this place more than just a restaurant. You’ve made it a home. Some of you have been with us for years — weathering every challenge, celebrating every win, and always showing up with resilience, warmth, and integrity.

“We are forever thankful for your loyalty, your hard work, and your heart.”

While in business, Hob Nob offered a variety of farm, or meat, dishes, as well as fish entrees and several different kinds of pastas and small plates. For drinks, the restaurant had a cocktail list that included its take on a number of classic libations.

“As we close this chapter, we do so with immense pride and gratitude. Though the doors of HobNob may be closing, the spirit and community we built together will always remain,” the restaurant said.

A beloved “red-sauce” Italian restaurant frequented by the likes of Frank Sinatra and other major celebrities has closed after 46 years.

Guido’s Italian Restaurant earned the label “iconic” due to its neon light fixture, red booths, traditional interior, and the celebrities who visited over the years for an authentic Italian experience in Los Angeles.

In addition to Sinatra, the restaurant was a hangout for everyone from Alan Alda to Tom Selleck, according to photos the Santa Monica Boulevard restaurant posted to its Facebook page over the years.

But now it’s the “end of an era,” as FOX LA put it. The restaurant closed last month, on May 11, 2025, that station reported. However, LA Taco reported that the restaurant’s final closing date was May 31. Either way, it closed for good in May, which has saddened a lot of people who enjoyed the old world atmosphere.

According to LA Eater, Guido’s closing “is the latest in a series of old-school restaurant closures that have shaken Los Angeles.”

Fidencio Gonzalez, the manager, confirmed the restaurant’s closing to the television station, which noted that the lease was “not renewed” and the owners “plan to build apartments in its place.”

It’s not just older celebrities who visited Guido’s over the years. The restaurant has also posted photos with actors like Charlie Sheen.

The restaurant frequently posted photos showing its traditional Italian dishes on its Facebook page.

Fans mourned the restaurant’s loss.

“So sad that GUIDO’S is closing. Been around since 1979. They just don’t make cozy restaurants like this anymore and I doubt they ever will again,” wrote one woman on Facebook.

According to LA Eater, the restaurant was “well known for its old-school charm, tuxedoed servers, and red leather booths.”

Related: Largest Fast Food Restaurant Chain Closed Over 600 Stores, New Data Reveals